Strong, Fast, and Fit: Month 1 Moves (Video)
Join us for this FREE six-month workout plan that kicks off January 2, 2017. Find the full workout plan and more details here.
View ArticleExpert Answers: How BCAAs Boost Health
Your body requires three branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Leucine typically gets most of the attention because of its ability to stimulate muscle growth, but each...
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Expert Answers: Assessing Baseline Fitness Level
Many beginners ask about fitness assessments right away, but experts suggest that the first concern should be gauging how well they move. Movement affects your form no matter which activity you choose,...
View ArticleTop 20 Fitness Trends for 2017
Wearable fitness technology is the No. 1 fitness trend for 2017, forecasts the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in its annual survey of more than 1,800 health-and-fitness professionals...
View ArticleExpert Answers: 4 Exercises for Pain-Free Pushups
Wrist and shoulder pain during pushups have different causes and cures. Wrist pain often indicates a mobility issue, says Molly Galbraith, CSCS, cofounder of Girls Gone Strong. She suggests the...
View ArticleFitness Fix: Pushup Form Modifications (Video)
Try these warm-up moves and exercises modifications if you struggle with sore wrists and shoulders when doing pushups.
View ArticleHow to Calculate Your Anaerobic Threshold
Many gym-goers naturally gravitate toward moderate-intensity cardio sessions, assuming they’re working hard enough to see results. But you’re probably not getting the most out of your workout if you’re...
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Strong, Fast, and Fit: Into the Fire (Month 3)
Smart training boils down to one basic principle: There’s a time for intensity and a time to back off. In this third month of Experience Life’s six-month workout program — which is based on the...
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Expert Answers: 4 Steps to Your First Pull-Up
Q | I can’t do a pull-up yet, but I really want to get there. Where do I start? A | Pull-ups are challenging for many people because they engage both large and small muscle groups — primarily your...
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Beyond the Core: How to Protect Your Knees
Editor’s note about this series: Building a strong core is a foundational goal in many fitness programs, but strong limbs also play a critical role in your overall health and fitness. That’s why it’s...
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Expert Answers: Exercises for Sore, Tight Hands
Q | My hands sometimes feel sore and tight. Are there any simple exercises or massages I can do to help them? A | Discomfort in your hands is often related to tension in your forearms. This can result...
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Beyond the Core: How to Fix Your Feet
Editor’s note about this series: Building a strong core is a foundational goal in many fitness programs, but strong limbs also play a critical role in your overall health and fitness. That’s why it’s...
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Beyond the Core: How to Strengthen Your Shoulders
Editor’s note about this series: Building a strong core is a foundational goal in many fitness programs, but strong limbs also play a critical role in your overall health and fitness. That’s why it’s...
View ArticleStrength in Repetition
You don’t have to heft humongous weights to reap the benefits of strength training. A recent study shows that people who lift light weights with more repetition can build muscle and strength just as...
View ArticleExpert Answers: How Does Alcohol Affect My Workout?
Q | I sometimes have a couple of drinks before working out. Could that affect my performance? A | Studies exploring the effects of drinking on fitness performance are inconclusive, says Matthew Barnes,...
View ArticleAwareness in Walking
A dozen women and half as many men, most in their 50s and beyond, are lying face up, knees toward the ceiling, in an exercise studio in Minnetonka, Minn. Some close their eyes, lids providing thin...
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Beyond the Core: How to Flex Your Neck
Editor’s note about this series: Building a strong core is a foundational goal in many fitness programs, but strong limbs also play a critical role in your overall health and fitness. That’s why it’s...
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Mix Up Your Grip
The standard pull-up grip is “double-overhand,” meaning both hands face away from you. There are, however, a variety of alternative options worth trying so you can determine which is best suited for...
View ArticleStrong, Fast, and Fit: Month 4 Moves (Video)
See all the moves for Month 4 of our Strong, Fast, and Fit program in action.
View ArticleExtreme Exercise, Anger, and Your Heart
When you’re all worked up, a workout may help you blow off steam. But a new study suggests that exercising to extremes when you’re angry may be hard on your heart. Researchers analyzed data from more...
View ArticleCountry Strong: Q&A With Dave McElroy
Dave McElroy has always had a strong work ethic. When he was 10, he routinely woke up at 5 a.m. so he could help his dad sell and repair farm equipment. At 17, he started running his dad’s landscape...
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Relearn to Walk
One of the distinguishing features of being human is our ability to stand upright and move on two feet. Our curved spine, foot structure, center of gravity, limb length, sling-system muscular...
View ArticleExpert Answers: Is it Safe to Exercise Barefoot at the Gym?
Barefoot exercising can be both safe and beneficial — if it’s done correctly and if you start slowly, says Maryland-based physical therapist and trainer Kevin McGuinness, DPT, CSCS. Jumping into...
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Expert Answers: How Do I Choose the Right Style of Yoga for Me?
The numerous types of yoga can be baffling, so first ask yourself what you’re looking for, suggests Jan Johnson, LifePower Yoga studio manager and instructor in St. Paul, Minn. Do you want it to be...
View ArticleExpert Answers: What Are the Benefits of Collagen
Collagen is an animal-based protein supplement derived from the skin, bones, tendons, and other so-called odd bits of pork, beef, and fish. In its digestible form — obtained through a process called...
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Strong, Fast, and Fit: Push to the Summit (Month 5)
Everyone has pressure-cooker moments. For students, it’s the final exam. For professional athletes, it’s the playoff game. For corporate warriors, it’s the quarterly report and big presentation. For...
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Yoga for Athletes
Three years after losing more than 50 pounds, Brad Maren was in the best shape of his adult life. He was strength training four times a week for about an hour, following a program of “high-density”...
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How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
Changing a bike tire is a vital skill for any cyclist — and it’s easier than you might think. Practicing this method at home can help put your mind at ease before your next outing. What you’ll need: A...
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Expert Answers: How Low Do I Need to Squat to Get the Full Benefits?
The “perfect” squat is one in which you hunker past parallel — your hip crease lowering below your knees. This builds core stability while improving range of motion and functionality in your hips,...
View ArticleExpert Answers: What’s an Easier Way to Track My HRV?
Q | I want to start tracking my HRV, but it’s a hassle. Is there an easier way to measure it? A | Heart rate variability (HRV) — the change in time between successive heartbeats — can be a useful tool...
View ArticleLap-Swimming Etiquette
Love to work out in the pool but hate the crowds? Learn these six rules, and lane-sharing will be a breeze. Find your pace. Faster swimmers tend to take the center lanes. Find a lane with people...
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Yoga for Athletes: There’s a Pose for That!
Running Images by Kelly LoverudTarget Area: Hamstrings Weak and tight hamstrings are common among runners, who often rely on their quads to power themselves forward. (The same is often true for...
View ArticleFitness: The New Vital Sign
The next time your doctor checks your blood pressure, don’t be surprised if he or she also asks about your general aerobic-fitness levels. How well your body delivers oxygen to its tissues may be just...
View Article5 Tips to a Better Squat
Squatting is an innate movement, but our sedentary lifestyles often diminish our ability to perform the move. To achieve your proper form, trainer Julia Ladewski, CSCS, recommends visualizing a toddler...
View ArticleHow Statins Hamper Exercise
Many people with high cholesterol are prescribed statins and advised to exercise more to boost their cardiovascular health. But muscle myopathy — a common side effect of the drug that causes fatigue,...
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